Electrical system



June 25, 1929. R. CQNWELL 1,718,454

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Original Filed May 11. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MAA June 25, 1929. R. N. CONWELL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM- Original Filed May 11', 1921.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CMS TDRHNE GVl E GM1 GOVRRMO m w M W Patented June 25, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROLLIN N. CONWELL, 0F BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Original application filed May 11, 1921, Serial No. 468,586. Divided and this application filed July 28, 1923. Serial No. 654,396.

This invention relates to electrical methods and apparatus,'and with regard to certain more specific features, to methods and apparatus for use in connection with alternating currents.

This application is a division of my application filed May 11, 1921, Serial No. 468,586, patented September 9, 1924, Patent No. 1,508,361.

Among the .several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of inexpensive and durable electrical, differential, reactive load, switch gear apparatus and auxiliaries therefor, utilizing inductive action; and the provision of simple and reliable apparatus of the class described. Other objects will be in part. obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, steps and sequence of steps, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts, which are exemplified in the description hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated diagrammatically one of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of one form of apparatus Fig. 2 is a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 1, excluding the connections; and

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram of a differential reactive switch-gear arrangement utilizing the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

FIG. 1.

0012structiow-Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there are illustrated at E E two sources of alternating current, in this instance obtained from the potentials of two circuits; a transformer T, T for each of said respective sources; a primary winding X, X for each of said respective transformers; a leg or pole piece or core element L L for each of said respective transformers; and a secondary winding Y Y for each of said respective transformers.

The transformer fluxes are due to the magneto-motive forces of the ampere turns of the primary and secondary windings of the respective transformers.

Another flux is induced by current passing through two other windings 0W OW connected to two sources 1 1 in this instance derived from the currents of the same or different phases of the circuits from which the potentials above noted are respectively derived. These two other windings are each wound upon two legs 0L ()L in such man nor that their magneto-motive forces normally oppose one another. The net flux, if other than zero, cooperates with the transformer fluxes. These several fluxes induce electric currents in one or more conductors, for some useful purpose. In the present embodiment. of the invention (see Figs. 1 and 2) the conductor is a movable element, to wit, a disc G pivoted as at 10 to one side of the plane of the laminated core C. The disc is driven by the vectorial sum of the forces acting upon it, that. is, the resultant .force arising from the reaction of the resultant flux and the flux caused by the electric currents induced thereby in the driven element G. The driven element G may simply allow an observer to determine its position and/0r direction of movement, as in 'synchronizers. Or the driven element may deliver mechanical power for power purposes, or run a totalizer or operate a pointer or recording device (stylus or the like) or contacts, or the like.

In the present instance the apparatus is illustrated as a relay, and the disc G is normally stationary. Upon any departure from normal condition, the disc tends to rotate in one direction or the other, retarded if desired by one or more drag magnets DM (Fig. 2) and the torque developed is determined by the magnitude of the abnormality that causes the torque. Such torque may be used for any of the several purposes above named, for which such torque may be suitable.

Normal c0ndz'tz'0n.In tracing the several currents and fluxes during normal condition, assume the sources E E in phase and sources I, I in phase, and the ampere turns in the two primaries equal, and assume an instant when the right-hand conductor at each source of power is plus, as indicated in Fig. 1. At

. this time, current in primary X flows to the left on the front side of the winding, inducing in secondary Y a current flowing to the right on the front side of the latter winding. The latter currentflows through a resistance Q}. Assume the current at source I flows to the left through the front side of the other winding OlN on the left leg 0L and to the right through the front side of said winding OW on the right leg 0L Current in primary X flows to the right on the front side of the winding, inducing in secondary Y a currentflowing to the left on the front side of the latter winding. Assume the current at source I to be in phase with the current at source E The current at 1 flows to the right through the front side of the other winding OVF on the left leg 0L and to the left through the front side of said winding 0W on the right leg 0L The proportioning of the windings and other factors is preferably such that this opposite flow of currents in the other-windings OlV, OlV" produces normally zero fluxin the legs OL, OL

. in quadrature with the transformer flux. As

there is no traveling field acting on the disc, the disc does not rotate.

Abnormal condition I causal by relative increase of current at source l .-1n tracing the several currents and fluxes upon a departure from normal condition, assume the currents at the sources I I in phase and the current at the source 1 larger than normal with respect to current at source I. At this time, the directions of the several currents are the same as during normal condition. The fluxes, however, are different. The current in the other winding (WV is thus greater than the current in other winding OH. The flux due to the differential action of other windings OVV OW is no longer zero, but has a magnitude determined by the extent of inequality between the ampere turns in the other windings 0W OVV That is, the larger the difference between the currents in the other windings, the larger is the other flux; and with the current in winding OW the greater, the other flux has one phase relation with the transformer fluxes, while if the current in winding OVV were the greater, the

other flux would have a different phase relation with the transformer fluxes.

(A) Assume the instant when the righthand conductors at each source of power is plus. The leg L atthe portion adjacent the disc G is therefore zero. The leg L may be disregarded. The leg-L is of'opposite polarity to 1e L and is also zero. The net flux due to t e preponderance of winding OW over winding ()W. in this instance lags behind the transformer fluxes. The extent of lag, for the purpose of the analysis hereinplus and minus, respectively. At this in stant, then, the legs L, 0L L OL are respectively zero, plus, zero, minus.

(B) Assume now an instant one-quarter cycle later. The two terminals at each source of power are now of zero potential, producing zero current in each primary X, X; there is thus minus polarity at leg L and plus at leg L Since the other flux lags ninctydegrces behind the transformer fluxes, said other flux is now zero at the legs 0L and OL. At this instant, then, the legs are respectively minus, zero, plus, zero, which means that the plus polarity has traveled from leg OL to leg L.

(C) Assume now an instant another onequarter cycle later. The right-hand terminal at each source of power is now minus, and the several currents and fluxes are thus one-half cycle behind their directions and values at the initial instant, indicated in paragraph A above. The legs are thus now respectively zero, minus, zero, plus, which means that the plus polarity has traveled from leg L to leg OL.

(D) Assume now an instant another onequarter cycle later, that is, three-quarters of a cycle later than the condition in paragraph A. The two terminals at each source of power are now of zero potential and the sev- L (E) Assume now an instant another onequarter cycle later, that is, an entire cycle later than the condition in paragraph A. The legs are now of the same polarity as at the instant in paragraph A, namely, respectively zero, plus, zero, minus, which means that the plus polarity has traveled from leg L to leg 0L The traveling field thus produced causes electric currents in the disc G, and the reaction between said flux or field and the flux caused by said currents produces torque in the disc, tending to rotate the disc clockwise (Fig. 2).

Abnormal condition II, caused by relative increase of current at source I .Next may be traced the several currents and fluxes when the departure from normal condition is caused by the current at the source I becoming larger than normal with respect to the current at source I.

(A) Assume first the instant when the right-hand conductor at each source of power is plus. The leg L may be disregarded. The leg L is zero, so far as the transformer fluxes therein are concerned. The leg L is of opposite polarity to leg L and is also zero. The net flux to the preponderance of winding OW over winding OW may be considered as ninety degrees ahead of the transformer fluxes. At the instant in question, the leg OL is minus and the leg OL" is plus. At this instant, then, the legs are respectively minus, zero, plus, zero.

(B) Assume now an instant one-quarter cycle later. The two terminals at each source of power are now of zero potential, producing zero current in each primaryX X; there is thus minus olarity at leg L. 1 Since the other flux lea s the transformer fluxes by ninety degrees, said other flux is now zero at legs UL and ()L. At this instant, then, the legs are respectively zero, plus, zero, minus, which means that the plus polarity has traveled from leg OL to leg L or in an opposite direction to its direction of travel during the corresponding quarter-cycle A-B during abnormal condition I. I

(C) Assume now an instant another onequarter cycle later. The left-hand terminal at each source of power is now plus, and the several currents and fluxes are thus one-half cycle behind their directions and values at the initial instant A. .The legs are thus now respectively plus, zero, minus, zero, which means that the plus polarity has traveled from leg L to leg 0L (D) Assume now an instant another onequarter cycle later, that is, three-quarters of a cycle later than the condition in paragraph A. The two terminals at each source of power are now of zero potential and the several currents and fluxes are one-half cycle behind their directions and Values at the instant indicated in paragraph B above. The legs are thus now respectively plus, zero, minus, zero, which means that the plus polarity has disappeared from leg UL and has reappeared at leg L.

(E) Assume now. an instant another onequarter cycle later, that is, an entire cycle later than the condition in paragraph A. The legs are now of the same polarity as at the instant in paragraph A, namely, respectively minus, zero, plus, zero, which means that the plus polarity has traveled from leg 1 to leg OL.

The disc thus tends to rotate counter-clockwise (Fig. 2).

Rsum.-Thus an excess of current at the source of power I relative to the current at source I (abnormal condition I) causes travel of plus polarity and hence torque in one direction while a relative excess of current at the source of power I (abnormal condition II) causes travel of plus polarity and hence torque in the opposite direction. In the latter case, as in the former, the magnitude of said relative excess of current determines the magnitude of the torque, for the reasons above noted.

The apparatus is thus simple in construction, may be made sensitive to small departures from normal condition, and is yet rugged enough to endure severe service conditions.

' FIGURE 3.

Construction-In Fig. 3, the relay of Fig. 1 is shown connected to operate in a differential reactive volt-ampere switchgear, with two polyphase generators O, 0, connected respectively to circuits K K leading to a bus B. Relay R has its sources E, I connected to a voltage and a current in quadrature with one another, in circuit K and its sources E, I, connected to analogous fac tors of circuit K.

N ormal oonditimt.VVhen the load in the circuits is properly apportioned the ampereturns in the two other windings ()IV, OW of the relay neutralize one another, and the movable contact M remains in the open-circuit or mid-position shown in Fig. 3; held there, preferably by oppositely acting retracting springs17.

At-nmwml condition [.\Vhen circuit K and hencegenerator 0 receives more than its share of the reactive load, the preponderance of watts at the left causes the disc to rotate clockwise, closing contacts MN This energizes contactor solenoid CS which thereupon rises and closes the circuits to the reactive-load-decreasing field DF of the governor motor GM and to the reactiveload-increasing field IF of the governor motor GM. The motors adjust governors GV, GV for the turbines TB TB or other suitable apparatus that drive the respective generators. The motors run until the proper ap portioning of the reactive load is restored, whereupon the relay disc returns to normal position and the motors stop.

Abnormal condition I I .-\Vhen circuit K and hence generator 0 receives more than its share of the reactive load, the reverse action occurs. That is, the relay contacts MN close and cause contactor solenoid OS to energize the reactive-load-increasing field IF 1 of motor GM and the reactive-load-decreasing field RF of motor GM, whereupon the reactive load is reapportioned to its normal relative values.

IN GENERAL.

that is, any acute-angle phase relation be-- tween the currents at the sources does not cause the resultant field to travel when the watts on the two sides are equal, but does cause it to travel in one direction or the other when such watts are unequal. During the former condition there is a flux through the poles 0L GL but the phase relation of the flux with respect to the transformer flux is such that no traveling field is produced. In the system shown in Fig. 3, two relays may be provided, each with one fixed contact, in which case the circuit conditions will be modified accordingly.

From the above it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are attained and other advantageous results achieved.

As many modifications of the embodiment above illustrated might be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, it is intended that the above description and accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In an electrical system, a bus, two power circuits feeding said bus, generators energizing said power circuits and prime movers driving the generators, said prime movers including governors, motored means effecting control of said governors, and circuits controlling the motored means, contactors in said circuits for controlling the effect thereof on i the motored means, means controlling the action of the contactors, a difierential reactive load switch-gear comprising a relay having connections to two factors, to wit, voltage and current, of each of said two power circuits, the-connections to one factor being in quadrature with the other factor in the power circuit, the voltage and current from one circuit producing fluxes in quadrature, the voltage and current from the other circuit producing fluxes in quadrature with one another and having operative components coacting with the respective fluxes due to the first circuit and a member movable to vary the action of the means controlling the contactor action, whereby the relative conditions of said power circuits are varied through control of said prime movers.

2. In an electrical system, a plurality of power feeder circuits, generators energizing said power circuits, prime movers driving the generators including governing means, means effecting control of the governors including control circuits, a differential reactive load switch-gear comprising a relay having connections to two factors, to wit, voltage and current, of each of said ower circuits, the connections to one factor being in quadrature with the other factor in the power circuit, the voltage and current from one circuit producing fluxes in quadrature, the voltage and current from another circuit producing fluxes in quadrature with one another and having operative components coacting with the respective fluxes due to the first circuit, and a member movable to vary the action of said control circuits for the governing means,v

whereby the relative conditions of said power circuits are varied through control of said prime movers.

3. In an electrical system, a plurality of power circuits, means energizing said power circuits having governing means, means for effecting control of the governing means whereby the energization of the power circuits is affected, a differential reactive load switch-gear comprising a relay having connections to two factors, to wit, voltage and current, of each of said power circuits, the connections to one factor being in quadrature with the otherfactor in the power circuit, the voltage and current from one circuit producing fluxes in quadrature, the voltage and current from the other circuit producing fluxes in quadrature with one another and having operative components coacting with the respective fluxes due to the first circuit, and a member movable to control the means for effecting governor control by movement in different directions, the net fluxes producing a traveling field tending to cause movement of said member in one direction or the other, depending on the instantaneous apportionment of reactive load between the circuits. I

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name. to this specification this 23rd day of July, 192a ROLLIN N. GONWELL. 

